State’s Attorney Birkett Announces National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Activities

DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett announced that his office will be participating in the 25th Anniversary of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by sponsoring a Public Information Station as well as commencing the first meeting of the Parents of Murdered Children DuPage Chapter (POMC®). National Crime Victims’ Rights Week begins on Sunday, April 10th and continues through Saturday, April 16th. 

"This specially designated week is a time to remind our society that crime in America continually threatens our sense of safety and security, and that any one of us at any time can fall victim to violence," commented State’s Attorney Birkett. "Next week is a time to pay tribute to those victims and survivors of crime who seek justice as well as assistance in moving forward with their lives. It is a time to recognize that ‘Justice Isn’t Served Until Crime Victims Are’, which is the theme of the 2005 National Crime Victims’ Rights week."

On Monday, April 11th, State’s Attorney Birkett is hosting a Public Information Station from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. in the first floor multi-purpose room of the DuPage County Courthouse located at 505 N. County Farm Road in Wheaton. Numerous government and social service agencies that serve the needs of victims will be present to provide informational materials and answer any questions. The agencies scheduled to be represented include the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM); Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD); DuPage Women Against Rape (DWAR of the YWCA); Family Shelter Services; Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA); Parents of Murdered Children®; Apna Gar (a domestic violence shelter primarily serving Asian women and children); the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office - Victim Services Unit; the Illinois Attorney General’s Office; and the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. 

Additionally, in honor of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week the State’s Attorney’s Office will be providing a Cell Phone Drop-Off both at the Information Station on April 11th in the Courthouse as well as in his office during the rest of the week. Anyone who has old cell phones or cell phone equipment (batteries, adaptors, cases, hands-free equipment, etc.) that are interested in making a donation are urged to bring their equipment to the courthouse throughout the week. All cell phones and equipment will be donated to crime victims in need of them. The State’s Attorney’s Office is located on the second floor of the Judicial Courthouse Annex at 503 N. County Farm Road in Wheaton. Anyone with questions can contact Victim Services Supervisor Terrie Jacoby at 630/407-8008. 

State’s Attorney Birkett is also pleased to announce that the first meeting of the newly established DuPage Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children® will be held during National Crime Victim’s Rights Week on Thursday, April 14th. The meeting will be held from 6-8 p.m. in the multi-purpose room of the Judicial Center Annex, located at 505 N. County Farm Road in Wheaton. Letters of invitation were mailed out by the State’s Attorney’s Office to family members of adult victims of homicide dating as far back as 1980, however all family members and friends of loved ones who have been taken violently by murder or reckless homicide are invited to attend. It is not necessary for the crime to have occurred in DuPage County in order to participate. The DuPage POMC® Chapter is regularly scheduled to meet every month on the second Thursday at the same time and at the same location. Interested members should contact Terrie Jacoby at 630/407-8008. 

According to Birkett, there has been a strong need for services for families and friends of murder victims for a very long time, and he is pleased to be able to host the county’s first POMC meeting during National Crime Victims’ Rights week. It is his hope that the DuPage POMC® chapter will provide the necessary ongoing, emotional support to parents and other survivors of reckless and intentional homicides in order to assist them in rebuilding their lives. According to Birkett, in essence these victims need to create a "new life," one which does not include their loved one.

"Everyone knows someone who has been victimized by crime, whether it was a victim of a pick-pocket or a heinous murder," State’s Attorney Birkett noted. "National Crime Victims’ Rights Week lends the perfect opportunity for all of us to pay tribute to those persons by publicly recognizing them as well as reaching out and informing them of services that are available."